Lewis Hamilton’s threat to quit rest of F1 season leaves Mercedes stunned – and raises fears at Ferrari, where he’s signed a £50m-a-year contract, about his future after latest meltdown

Mercedes have been left ‘surprised’ by Lewis Hamilton’s latest outburst, which appeared to suggest the star was preparing for an early exit from F1 this season despite three races remaining.

The Briton finished a lowly tenth at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos on Sunday after crashing out during a chaotic qualifying session in Q1, leaving him 14th on the grid.

The disappointing performance followed an eleventh-place finish in the sprint race and marked his lowest placing in a Grand Prix since Sao Paulo in 2022.

Cue a remarkable tantrum on the team radio, where the seven-time world champion called the Mercedes car ‘the worst ever’ during a ‘disaster of a weekend’.

What further worried team officials was Hamilton’s suggestion that the race “could be the last time I get to perform”, with The Telegraph reporting that bosses were said to be ‘surprised by the puzzling message’.

He threw a remarkable tantrum on team radio, where the seven-time world champion called the Mercedes car ‘the worst ever’

The Briton finished in a poor tenth place on Sunday during the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos

Mercedes is also confident the legendary driver will finish the season, with rumors of a special ending in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

But Hamilton’s message certainly raises doubts about a fairytale finish, with the 39-year-old also looking to the future in an interview with motorsport.com after the Grand Prix on Sunday.

“If they give me a car that doesn’t bounce off the track in the next few races, hopefully we can get a better result,” he said. “But yes, I’m looking forward to Christmas.”

However, Hamilton’s complete breakdown on team radio in Sao Paulo proved the biggest cause for concern, with the Briton saying: ‘That was a disaster of a weekend guys. That’s the worst the car has ever been.

‘But thanks for keeping trying. Great job from the guys at the pit stop.

“If this is the last time I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but I’m grateful.”

It’s worth noting that the cryptic message may not be as worrying as many initially feared, with his words possibly a reference to the pit crew called in for the final three races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

A sudden departure from Mercedes would mean a sad end to a glorious career with the manufacturer.

The icon currently sits seventh this season, despite two race wins, and will join Ferrari next season as partner Charles Leclerc.

Teammate George Russell has beaten Hamilton this season, which will worry Ferrari

His latest outburst is not his first and Hamilton lost his cool after the controversial 2021 season finale

Hamilton joined the team in 2013, after several near misses with McLaren following his sensational title in 2008, and has been at the top of the sport ever since.

The Briton won six of the next seven drivers’ championships before finishing second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in one of the most dramatic and controversial final days in F1 history in Abu Dhabi.

The icon currently sits seventh this season despite two race wins and will join Ferrari next season as Charles Leclerc’s partner, a move announced ahead of the 2024 season.

But Hamilton isn’t exactly arriving on the crest of a wave at racing’s most famous team after his latest meltdown shed light on deeper problems with his performance.

Ferrari is set to spend well over £50 million a year on the racer and the fact that his disastrous Sunday came on the 16th anniversary of his memorable title-winning drive in 2008 was a reminder that he could be a spent force.

His speed is undoubtedly decreasing with teammate George Russell beating him in 16 of 21 qualifying sessions this season. His compatriot wiped the floor with him this weekend and finished fourth.

Moreover, the precarious wet conditions in Sao Paulo, which may have been good for him in recent years, seemed to weigh on his mind and the driver had no confidence in the rain.

The way Hamilton lost his cool on Sunday may also be indicative of his frustration with his driving skills as he nears the end of an era, although his tantrum in Brazil was not the first time he has lashed out in his esteemed career.

Hamilton joined the team in 2013 after several near misses with McLaren following his sensational title in 2008 (pictured)

The Brit won six of the next seven Drivers’ Championships, including in 2019 (pictured)

Despite his poor form, he has won two races this year, including the British Grand Prix in July (photo)

In 2022, Hamilton lost his cool at the Dutch Grand Prix when Russell was brought into the pits ahead of him to change his tires, leaving the seven-time champion on the track with an even older set.

He said, ‘I can’t believe you guys screwed me, man. I can’t tell you how angry I am right now.’

And following the controversial end to the 2021 season, which saw Hamilton denied a record-breaking eighth title thanks to an improper handling of the Safety Car restart procedure, the Briton said on his team radio that he felt the outcome had been ‘rigged’.